Slice delivery and arranging apparatus for slicing machines



Sept. 2, 1947. MAHLER 2,426,835

SLICE DELIVERY AND ARRANGING APPARATUS FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed Oct. 18, 1943 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 W. MAHLER Sept. 2, 1947.

SLIGE DELIVERY AND ARRANGING APPARATUS FOR SLICING MACHINES I 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 maxim maize/, mu zz ,445 @MA. jg 4! 5.

Filed Oct. 18, 1943 Sept. 2, 1947. w, HLE 2,426,835

SLICE DELIVERY AND ARRANGING APPARATUS FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed Oct. 18, 1943 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 2, 1947. w, MAHLER 2,426,835

SLICE DELIVERY AND ARRANGING APPARATUS FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed Oct. 18, 1943 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 W. MAHLER Sept. 2, 1947.

SLICE DELIVERY AND ARRANGING APPARATUS FOR SLICING MACHINES 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Oct. 18, 1943 Sept. 2, 1947. w, M AH LER 2,426,835

SLICE DELIVERY AND ARRANGING APPARATUS FOR SLICING MACHINES M12172 fife/ 2267,

Sept. 2, 1947. w. MAHLER 1 2,426,835

SLICE DELIVERY AND ARRANGING APPARATUS FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed Oct. 18; 1943 8 Sheets-Sheet s mil/a) mama;

Patented Sept. 2, 1947 SLICE DELIVERY AND ARRAblGING APPA- RATUS FOR SLICING MACHINES William Mahler, La Porte, Ind., assignor to U. S. Slicing Machine Company, La Porte, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application October 18, 1943, Serial No. 506,624

This invention relates to slicing machines and more particularly to delivery apparatus for a bacon slicer or the like.

A primary object of the invention is the provision of apparatus for measuring desired quantities of sliced material, such as bacon, and for separating the measured quantities of material into individual groups adapted for ready packaging.

A further object is the provision of delivery apparatus adapted for association with a bacon slicer or the like and providing for dividing desired quantities of cut slices into separated groups whereby each group may be readily and rapidly packaged.

A further object is the provision of apparatus for taking cut slices from a slicing machine and delivering the slices to a moving conveyor in shingled form, the apparatus further providing for arranging the slices on the conveyor in separated groups each having a predetermined number of slices therein.

A still further object is the provision of a delivery apparatus for slicing machines which separates the cut slices into individual groups of a predetermined number of slices and which is readily adjustable to vary the number of slices in each individual group, whereby different desired quantities or weights of sliced material may be measured out and adapted for ready packaging.

Still another object is the provision of a rotary member for taking out slices of material from a slicing machine and delivering the slices to a moving conveyor in shingled form, the speed of the rotary member being periodically accelerated to space the cut slices in separated groups of a predetermined number of slices.

Another object is the provision of a rotary member for taking out slices of material from a slicing machine and delivering the slices to a moving conveyor in shingled form, the speed of the rotary member being periodically accelerated to space the cut slices in separated groups of a predetermined number of slices and the periods between acceleration being selectively variable to vary the number of slices in each group.

A still further object is the provision of delivery apparatus as set forth above which is readily applicable to existing slicing machines.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings which illustrate a selected embodiment of the invention, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a slicing ma- 8 Claims. (Cl. 14694) chine having delivery apparatus in accordance with the present invention associated. therewith;

Fig. 2 is a part plan view of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional view on a larger scale, the action being taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detailed section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; i

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the accelerating and timing mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken through the mechanism of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken transversely of the mechanism shown in Figs. 6 and '7;

Fig. 9 is a detailed view of a free wheeling clutch mechanism associated with the accelerating and timing mechanism of Figs. 6, 7 and and Fig. 10 is a detailed section taken on the line l0|0 of Fig. 9.

The invention is herein disclosed for the purpose of illustration as being applied to a bacon slicer of the type disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,976,824 to Ahrndt. Only such parts of the slicing machine itself as are necessary fOr an understanding of the present invention are described, and reference is made to said Patent No. 1,976,824 for a more complete description of the slicing machine. It is to be understood, however, that the slicing machine may be of any desired type and construction.

Referring to the drawings, the slicing machine (Figs. 1, 2 and 3)'comprises a base 20, a motor 2|, a fly wheel 22, and a shaft 23 which extends longitudinally of the machine and is rotated at substantially constant speed by the motor and fly Wheel. Substance to be sliced is fed along a table 24 by suitable means such as a carriage 25, and is cut into slices by a rotary slicing knife 26 mounted within a knife housing 21 and driven by the shaft 23. Cut slices are dischar ed at the lower end of the knife housing 21 and at the right hand end of the machine as viewed in Fig. 1.

In accordance with the present invention, each slice as it is-discharged is impaled upon the prongs of a pronged roller 28 which is positioned adjacent the discharge end of the slicing machine and provides for delivering the cut slices in shingled manner to a continuously moving endless conveyor 29. The conveyor 29 may be of any desired construction, and of any desired length.

3 The conveyor 29 may be independently driven or driven from any suitable part of the slicing machine, and is positioned below the top portion of the roller 28.

The cut slices are stripped from the pronged roller 28 and fed to the conveyor 29 by means of a plurality of stripper and guide fingers 3| which extend angularly downwardly from the top portion of roller 28 to the conveyor, and are arranged between the prongs of the delivery roller and the belts or webs of the conveyor. The delivery roller 28 is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 by mechanism hereinafter described, and normally rotates at a constant speed co-ordinated with the speed of the slicing machine to receive and deliver a plurality of cut slices in shingled formation. Periodically, however, the roller 28 is accelerated to effect a spacing between groups of shingled slices delivered to the conveyor 29.

Cut slices are thus delivered to the conveyor 29 in separated groups each containing a, predetermined number of slicescorresponding, for example, to A, /2 or 1 pound lots. Each of these groups may then readily be taken up and packaged by operators along the conveyor. To provide for sepaarting the groups into lots of different quantities, a simply adjusted mechanism is provided to control the intervals or periods between acceleration of the roller 28.

Referring again to the'drawings, a sprocket'32 is attached to the shaft 23 adjacent the knife housing 21 and operates a chain 33 trained over a sprocket 34 rotatably mounted upon an adjustable bracket 35. A housing 36 encloses the chain 33 and is adjustably mounted on the knife housing 21 by means of stud and, slot connections indicated generally by the numerals 31 and 38. Bracket 35 is also adjlustably mounted on the knife housing by means of an elongated slot 39 and bolts or studs 40.

A stepped pulley 4| is mounted upon a shaft 42 carried by the bracket 35 and rotated by the sprocket 34. A belt 43 operatively connects the stepped pulley 4| with a co-operating, oppositely disposed stepped pulley 44 mounted upon a longitudinally extending shaft 45. The arrangement of parts is such that a change of speed may be accomplished between the motor driven shaft 23 and the longitudinally extending shaft 45 by adjusting the position of the belt 43 upon the stepped pulleys 4| and 44. Tension of the belt The construction and arrangement of parts is such that the gear 48 normally drives the shaft 49 through the rollers 58 and clutch member 54, but the shaft 49 may be rotated at a greater speed than the gear 48 by slippage of the rollers and clutch member past the gear. Spacing collars 59 and 68 provide for maintaining the gear 48 and clutch member 54 in proper position with respect to the worm 41 and shaft 49. The collar 59 is also provided with an annular flanged portion 6| which serves to maintain the rollers 58 in proper operative position within the pockets 51 of the clutch member 54.

The shaft 49 drives a sprocket 62 which is attached to the shaft by a pin 63, Fig. 4, and operates a chain 64 which trains over a sprocket 65 attached to the shaft '65 of the pronged roller 28. The pronged roller 28 is thus normally driven at a .constant speed by the shaft 23 through the worm drive 41-48, the free-wheeling clutch member 54, shaft 49, sprocket G2 and chain 64. This speed is so adjusted by means of the stepped pulleys 4| and 44 and the belt 43 that the out slices are normally delivered to the roller 28 and conveyor 29 in shingled fashion. Periodically, however, the speed of the pronged roller 28 is accelerated to provide a spacing be- 43 may be adjusted by adjustment of the bracket and housing 36.

The shaft is rotatably mounted in a gear housing 46 and carries a worm 41, Figs. 4 and -7, positioned within the housing and integrally attached to the shaft 45. The worm 41 meshes with a worm wheel or gear 48 which is mounted upon a transverse shaft 49 operatively supported in the housing 46 by means of ball bearings 50 and 5| and lock nuts 52. The gear 48 is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 49 by means of ball bearings 53 suitably positioned between the gear and shaft, and normally drives the shaft 49 at constant speed through a free-wheeling clutch mechanism illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

This free-wheeling clutch mechanism comprises a clutch member 54 which is operatively received within a circular recessed portion 55 provided in gear 48. The clutch member 54 is keyed to the shaft 49, as indicated at 56, and is provided with a plurality of peripherally arranged, wedge-shaped notches or pockets 51 each having a roller 58 loosely positioned therein.

tween groups of cut slices as above described.

Acceleration of the delivery roller 28 is effected by a sprocket 10 which is pinned to the shaft 49 as indicated at 1|, Fig. 4, and is periodically driven at accelerated speed by a chain 12 trained over a driving sprocket 13, Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9. Sprocket 13 normally idles on a shaft 14, being rotated in a clockwise direction, Figs. 6 and '1, by the shaft 49, sprocket 10 and chain 12, but is periodically accelerated in such clockwise direction to drive the sprocket 10, shaft 49, sprocket 62, chain 64, sprocket 65 and roller 28 at an accelerated speed. During these periods of acceleration the driving gear 48 slips on the shaft 49 through the free-wheeling mechanism 54-58 as described above.

Periodic acceleration of the sprocket 13 is effected by means of an accelerating and timing mechanism comprising a bell crank lever 15, a tension spring 16 and a combined operating and timing cam 11. The lever 15 is keyed to one end of the shaft 14, as indicated at 18, Fig. 9, and

comprises a pair of arms 19 and 89. Arm 19 extends downwardly and is connected .at 8|, Fig. 6, to one end of the spring 15, the other end of the spring being attached to a fixed pin or lug 82, Figs. 6 and 8, secured to a downwardly extending flange or apron 83 of the slicing machine and maintained in operative position by a spacing collar 84. The other arm 88 extends upwardly and carries a roller which co-operates with the cam 11.

The cam 11 is keyed at 88, Fig. 8, to an end 81 of a shaft 88, and is continuously rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6 by a change speed mechanism hereinafter described. The cam as illustrated actually comprises two similarly shaped cams or cam portions 89 and 90 which alternately engage and operate on the roller 85 of the bell crank lever 15. Each of the portions 89 and 99 comprises a leading cam surface 9| which curves along a path having a continuously increasing radius with respect to the center of shaft 88 and a trailing surface 92 which is out along the arc of a circle having its center at the axis of the shaft 14 and a radius equal to the combined height of the arm 80 and roller 85. The construction of the cam 11 is thus such that the bell crank lever I together with the shaft 14 are rotated or moved in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6 during the time that the roller 85 is travelling on one of the cam surfaces 9|. When a high point 93 of the cam is reached, however, the roller 85 is free to move along'the arcuate surface 92 and the lever I5 together with shaft 14 are rapidly rotated in a clockwise direction by the spring I6, the spring being arranged always to exert a strong pull in this direction on the lever.

Bell crank lever I5 and shaft I4 are thus alternately moved in a counter-clockwise direction by the cam 11 and in a clockwisehirection by the spring I6, the latter movement being arrested when the roller 85 engages a succeeding cam surface '9I, as illustrated in Fig. 6. Cam 11 rotates at a relatively slow, constant speed, the speed being adjusted so that a desired quantity of cut slices are delivered to the pronged delivery roller 28 in shingled fashion during the period that the roller 85 is travelling on one of the cam portions 9|. Thereafter, lever I5 and shaft 14 move very rapidly under action of spring '16 to rotate shaft I4 in the same direction as the idling sprocket I3 but at a much greater speed than the idling speed of the sprocket. This increased speed of shaft I4 is transmitted to sprocket I3 to accelerate the roller 28 through the mechanism above described and cause a spacing between groups of cut slices. The quantity of cut slices in each spaced group may thus be readily varied by merely changing the speed of rotation of the cam 11.

The increased speed of shaft I4 under action of spring 16 is transmitted to sprocket I3 by a free-wheeling mechanism illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 and generally similar to the free-wheeling clutch 54-58 previously described. As shown in Figs 9 and 10, the sprocket I3 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 14 by roller bearings 95 and is provided with a flanged hub 96 having a circular recess 91, A collar or hub 98 is pinned to shaft I4 at 99 and carries a clutch member I00 received within the circular recess 91 of sprocket hub 96. Clutch member I00 is attached to collar or hub 98 by rivets WI and is provided with a plurality of peripherally arranged, wedgeshaped notches or pockets I02 each having a roller I03 loosely positioned therein. The arrangement and construction of parts is such that sprocket I3 can normally idle on shaft I4, being driven in one direction by shaft 49, sprocket 10 and chain I2, while shaft I4 is rotated in an opposite direca tion by cam 11, but is moved at accelerated speed when shaft I4 rotates in the same direction as the sprocket under action of spring 16.

Shaft I4 is rotatably mounted by ball bearings I05 and I08, Figs. 8 and 9, in a lower section I01 of a transmission casing or housing I08. The shaft 88 is rotatably supported by ball bearings I09 in the transmission housing I08 and is driven at constant but changeable speed by any one of a plurality of sprockets I I0. Each of the sprockets H0 is attached to the shaft 88 by a set screw III and is driven by a chain H2 trained over a driving, sprocket I3 mounted on a driving shaft I4. The diameters of the respective sprockets I I0 and I I3 are so arranged that the shaft 88 and cam IT can be driven at any one of a plurality of different speeds depending upon the particular set of sprockets utilized.

The shaft I I4 is rotatably mounted in the housing I08 by means of ball bearings H5, Fig. 8, and is provided with a hollow bore H8 within which a rod H1 is longitudinally slidable. A key H8 is pivotally mounted at H9 on the rod H1 and provides for selectively connecting the respective sprockets H3 with the shaft H4 for rotation therewith, the sprockets H3 being loosely mounted on the shaft, H4 and separated by spacing collars I20 which completely surround the external diameter of the shaft. The key H8 is provided with a, head "I which is slidable in a longitudinal slot I22 provided in shaft H4 and is adapted to enter into a keyway I23 provided in each of the sprockets H3. The rod II! and key H8 are thus rotated with the shaft H4, being driven by the key head I 2| in the slot I22, and any sprocket H3 having the key head I2I received within its keyway I23 is also driven at the same speed as shaft H4. By shifting rod III and key H8 longitudinally ofshaft H4 any desired sprocket I I3 can 'be selectively connected with the shaft for driving thereby, or the key head can be caused to rest on the inner diameter of one of th spacing collars I20 whereupon the shaft H4 rotates without driving any of the sprockets H3.

Shifting movement of the key member H8 is facilitated by cam surfaces I24 and I25 which are provided on head I2I and cam the head into and out of the respective keyways I23. Positive movement of key head I2I into a selected sprocket keyway I23 is effected b a plunger I26 which is slidably mounted in rod H1 and is urged by a spring I21 against a cammed surface I28 on the key H8. Sliding movement of the rod III selectively to engage the locking key I I8 with a selected sprocket H3 is effected by a circular rack I29 provided on the right hand end of the shaft I I4, Fig. 8, and engaged by a spur gear I30 encased within a housing I3I attached to the transmission casing I08. Gear I30 is attached to a shaft I32 which is rotatably mounted in housing I3I and is operated by a knob or handle I33 selectively to move the rod H1 and key H8 along the length of shaft H4. Suitable indicia I34 is provided on the knob or handle I33 to indicate the position of key H8 and the speed of cam 'I'I. Shaft 88 and cam II are thus driven at a selected speed by the shaft I I4, shaft I I4 being adapted to 'be rotated at a constant speed by a sprocket I35 keyed to one end of the shaft as indicated at I38,

'' Fig. 8, and the number of cut slices delivered to the roller 28 between successive accelerations is readily varied or controlled by adjustment of rod II'l through the operating knob I33.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the sprocket I35 and shaft I I4 are rotated at constant speed by the slicing machine with which the delivery, accelerating and timing mechanism above described are associated. To this end a chain I37, Figs. 6 and 8, is trained over the sprocket I35 and is driven by a sprocket I38 attached to a shaft I39 by a set screw I40. Shaft I39 is rotatably mounted in a gear housing I4I positioned on top of the transmission casing I08 and has a worm gear I42, Figs. 6 and 7, attached thereto. Worm gear I4'2 meshes with and is driven by a worm I43 integrally attached to a shaft I44 rotatably mounted in the gear housing IN. A sprocket I45, Figs. 2, 6, '7, and 8, is attached to the shaft I44 and is driven by a chain I46 trained over a sprocket I41 attached to the flywheel shaft 23 of the slicing machine. A protective housing I48 preferably extends transversely of the slicing machine and encloses the sprockets I45 and I41 and the chain I48.

A delivery apparatus that can be attached to an existing slicing machine, which delivers cut 7 slices in separated groups of a predetermined quantity of slices, and which can be readily and simply adjusted to vary the quantity of cut slices in each separated group is thus provided. The entire delivery apparatus including the accelerating and timing mechanism can be driven by the slicing machine itself. The periodic accelerationsof the delivery roller 28 assist in stripping the cut slices from the roller and in causing the same to move in shingled fashion down the stripper fingers 3| onto the conveyor 29.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

A slicing machine comprising means for slicing material into slices, a continuously rotating shaft included in said slicing means, delivery means for receiving cut slices from said slicing means and delivering the slices to a predetermined position, means including a free wheeling clutch for normally driving said delivery means at substantially constant speed from said shaft, a second free wheeling clutch operatively connected with said first clutch and having a part normally rotating in unison with the first clutch, an arm operatively connected with said second clutch, and means for periodically operating said arm in a direction and at a speed to effect acceleration of said drive means through said second and first clutches, said last named means comprising spring means for effecting accelerating movement of said arm, cam means for moving said arm against action of said spring means and for releasing the arm for movement under action of the spring means, and means for operating said cam means.

2. A slicing machine comprising means for slicing material into slices, a continuously rotating shaft included in said slicing means, de-

livery means for receiving cut slices from said slicing means and delivering the slices to a predetermined position, means including a free wheeling clutch for normally driving said delivery means at substantially constant speed from said shaft, a second free wheeling clutch operatively connected with said first clutch and having a part normally rotating in unison with the first clutch, an arm operatively connected with said second clutch, and means for periodically operatin said arm in a direction and at a speed to effect acceleration of said drive means through said second and first clutches, said last named means comprising spring means for effecting accelerating movement of said arm, cam means for moving said arm against action of said spring means and for releasing the arm for movement under action of the spring means, and change speed means for operating said cam means, said change speed means being driven by the slicing machine.

3. A slicing machine comprising means for slicing material into slices, 3, pronged rotary member for taking out slices from said slicing means, a continuously moving conveyor arranged adjacent said pronged rotary member and having its upper conveying portion positioned below the upper portion of the rotary member, a plurality of stationary stripping and guide members arranged between prongs on said rotary member and extending downwardly towards said conveyor to strip sliced material from the rotary member and guide it onto the conveyor, means for normally rotating said rotary member at substantially constant speed, and means for periodically accelerating the speed of rotation of said member.

4. A slicing machine comprising means for slicing material into slices, a pronged rotary member for taking out slices from said slicing means, a continuously moving conveyor arranged adjacent said pronged rotary member and having its upper conveying portion positioned below the upper portion of the rotary member, a plurality of stationary stripping and guide members arranged between prongs on said rotary member and extending downwardly towards said conveyor to strip sliced material from the rotary member and guide it onto the conveyor, means for normally rotating said rotary member at substantially constant speed, means for periodically accelerating the speed of rotation of said memher, and means for varying the periods between said accelerations,

5. A slicing machine comprising means for slicing material into slices, conveyor means for receiving said slices and delivering the same at a remote station, drive means comprising a shaft drivingly connected with said slicing means through a free wheeling clutch and connected to drive said conveyor means at a speed proportional to that of the slicing means, accelerating means periodically operable to drive said shaft at accelerated speed to effect spacement between groups of out slices delivered at said remote station, and a timing cam drivingly connected with said slicing means and operatively associated with said accelerating means for controlling the operation thereof in timed relationship with respect to the operation of the slicing means.

6. A slicing machine comprising means for slicing material into slices, conveyor means for receiving said slices and delivering the same at a remote station, drive means comprising a shaft drivingly connected with said slicing means through a free wheeling clutch and connected to drive said conveyor means at a speed proportional to that of the slicing means, accelerating means periodically operable to drive said shaft at accelerated speed to effect spacement between groups of cut slices delivered at said remote station, a timing cam controlling the operation of said accelerating means, and change speed gearing drivingly connected with said timing cam and said slicing means to operate the cam at an adjustably variable rate of speed with respect to the operating speed of the slicing means.

7. A slicing machine comprising slicing means for slicing material into slices, a motor for driving said slicing means at substantially uniform speed, conveyor means for receiving said slices and delivering the same at a remote station, drive means for said conveyor means comprising a shaft driven by said motor through a free wheeling clutch and connected to drive said conveyor means, accelerating means driven by said motor and drivingly connected with said shaft through an overrunning clutch for periodically driving said shaft at accelerated speed, and timing means driven by said motor for controlling the operation of said accelerating means.

8. A slicing machine comprising slicing means for slicing material into slices, a motor for driving said slicing means at substantially uniform speed, conveyor means for receiving said slices and delivering the same at a remote station,

drive means for said conveyor means comprising a shaft driven by said motor through a tree wheeling clutch and connected to drive said conveyor means, accelerating means driven by said motor and drivingly connected with said shaft through an overrunning clutch for periodically driving said shaft at accelerated speed, and timing means driven by said motor for controlling the operation of said accelerating means, said timing means comprising a. cam driven by said motor and a spring actuated cam follower drivingly connected with said shaft through said overrunning clutch.

WILUIAMMAI-IIER.

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